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1 7 F O O T B A L L ME D I A G U I D E
to the Hokie Scholarship Fund to be utilized specifically for scholarships for
deserving student-athletes, a dramatic 65 percent increase in giving from the
previous year’s $9.8 million total.
Respected by his peers and other key figures on the collegiate athletics
scene across the country, Babcock was selected as one of five finalists for the
2016-17 Athletic Director of the Year Award presented by the SportsBusiness
Journal
and
SportsBusiness Daily.
With the assistance
of a talented staff,
Babcock and his
team are making a
positive impact on all
facets of the athletics
department.
Perhaps one of
the most tangible
example
of
Babcock’s leadership
at Tech has been the
continued success
of established head
coaches combined
with the immediate
impact made by
newcomers
to
the Hokies’ head
coaching roster.
Led by Cianelli,
the track and field
program produced
a
2017
NCAA
individual champion
in the javelin (Irena
Sediva).
Tech’s
women’s soccer program has made five NCAA appearances under head
coach Chugger Adair, including a national semifinal berth in 2013. The men’s
basketball program has continued to ascend to new heights under Williams,
while Brooks won his first 15 games with the Hokies as Tech’s women’s
basketball team ascended as high as No. 15 in the national polls.
Fuente guided the football team back to the ACC Championship Game
and a thrilling Belk Bowl victory to cap a 10-win season and a No. 16 finish
in the polls. In his first at the helm of the women’s lacrosse coach John Sung
spearheaded a Hokie resurgence in that sport. Sung led a program that tied
a school record with 11 wins and was ranked as high as No. 12 during the
season – the program’s highest ranking ever. A total of 14 programs earned a
top 25 ranking at some point during the 2016-17 academic year.
Robie took over the helm of the wrestling program on an interim basis for
the postseason, earned ACC Co-Coach of the Year honors, guided his team to
an ACC tournament title and a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships
before receiving the job on a permanent basis following the season. Meanwhile,
the Hokies hired Jill Wilson from LSU in January to lead the fortunes of Tech’s
volleyball program
Babcock’s professional background is mostly in fundraising and marketing,
and he believes that success in these areas begin with developing relationships.
“People have to trust you, and you have to paint a vision for them and show
them a need; how they can make an impact,” he said. “The reason we want to
treat all of our fans well is because they are all important. There is strength in
numbers and we have room for more to join our cause. There’s an old adage in
our business that everyone’s first gift is their smallest. If you do things right, it
moves on up the line. We look forward to engaging our ever-increasing fan and
alumni base and focusing on creating memorable experiences whenever they
come in contact with us.”
Babcock continues to make an impact on Tech’s facilities as well. Next
year marks the 125th season of baseball at Virginia Tech. In conjunction with
that anniversary, the Hokies will celebrate the completion of a $20 million
renovation of English Field at Union Park thanks to a transformational corporate
partnership investment by Virginia-based Union Bank and Trust. That tangible
commitment to facilities was one of many factors that helped the Hokies hire
a proven winner in John Szefc in June to lead Tech’s baseball program. Szefc
guided Maryland to three NCAA berths, including a pair of NCAA Super
Regional appearances, and has led his squads to 10 campaigns with 30 or
more victories in 12 previous seasons as a head coach.
A 2,600-square foot indoor golf practice facility for both the men’s and
women’s programs was recently completed. $18 million in renovations to
Rector Field House, which houses the track and field programs, as well as
the construction of a softball batting facility are currently in progress, while
improvements to the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center are on the horizon.
Babcock was instrumental in securing a $5 million commitment from
R o a n o k e - b a s e d
Carilion Hospital for
scholarships
and
improvements
to
Cassell
Coliseum
where new, padded
seats were installed
this summer. Future
plans call for other
renovations, including
the Bowman Room,
a projected $15
million
project
designed to aid the
athletics department
in its student-athlete
nutrition efforts and
to provide enhanced
pregame hospitality
options for donors
and fans.
The $21.3 million
Virginia Tech Indoor
Practice
Facility
opened
in
the
summer of 2015 and
has proven to be a
fabulous asset for the
football program, as
well as the men’s and women’s soccer teams, in addition to baseball, softball
and lacrosse.
Other accomplishments during Babcock’s tenure include the launching of a
new mission statement and core values for the athletics department. The core
values – integrity, service, honor, excellence and strong together – represent
the brand and foundation of the department. In addition, he unveiled the
“Pylons of Promise,” a landmark document that sets forth the university’s and
the athletics department’s commitment to student-athletes during their times
at Virginia Tech. This document served as Virginia Tech’s proactive response
to the changes in the NCAA governance landscape. The Pylons of Promise is
based on the ideals emblazoned on the eight pylons at the Virginia Tech War
Memorial Court.
Babcock arrived in Blacksburg following two and a half years as the director
of athletics at the University of Cincinnati and five years at the University of
Missouri, where he served as the executive associate director of athletics.
Babcock has cited three guiding principles for his vision for the athletics
department’s future: commitment to comprehensive excellence, centering
the department’s focus on the student-athlete experience and engaging the
community.
During his stint as the AD at Cincinnati, Babcock initiated a new
administrative structure within the department and proposed a comprehensive
vision and capital campaign for athletics facility enhancement, which included
an $86-million renovation and expansion to Nippert Stadium, the school’s
football stadium.
A member of the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee, Babcock is a past
president of the National Association of Athletic Development Directors
(NAADD). He has presented before the National Association of Collegiate
Directors of Athletics (NACDA), National Association of Collegiate Women
Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) and the 1-A Athletic Directors Association
annual institute.
A product of the student-athlete experience himself, Babcock lettered four
seasons in baseball at James Madison University and served as team captain
his senior year. Babcock earned his bachelor’s degree from JMU in 1992.
In 1996, he received his master’s in sports management from West Virginia
University. He and his wife, Kelly reside in Blacksburg and have three sons:
Andrew, Brett and Eli.
Babcock welcomed 2016 Olympian Kristi Castlin back to Hokie Nation last year during Tech’s
49-0 football win vs. Boston College. Castin won a bronze medal at the Rio Games in an
American sweep in the 100-meter hurdles.